Methods for the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic prostate tumors

A method for detection of metastatic potential comprising identifying a prostate cell in a body fluid sample obtained from a subject and detecting expression of fit-4 in said cell, wherein expression of flt-4 indicates that said cell is a prostate cancer cell that has metastatic potential or is a secondary prostate tumor metastasis, or is derived therefrom.

A method for diagnosing metastatic prostate cancer in a subject comprising identifying a prostate cell in a body fluid sample obtained from the subject and detecting expression of flt-4 in the prostate cell, wherein expression of flt-4 in a prostate cell indicates that the subject has metastatic prostate cancer.

A method for determining the prognosis of a subject with prostate cancer comprising identifying a prostate cell in a body fluid sample obtained from a subject with prostate cancer and detecting expression of flt-4 in the prostate cell, wherein expression of flt-4 in said cell indicates that the subject has a worse prognosis as compared to a second subject in whose prostate cell no flt-4 expression or activity is detected.

A method of treating, inhibiting or preventing a secondary prostate tumor metastasis comprising administering to a subject in which such treatment, inhibition or prevention is desired a therapeutically effective amount of a molecule that inhibits fit-4 expression or activity.

16-18. (canceled)

A method for screening for a molecule that treats, inhibits or prevents a secondary prostate tumor metastasis comprising contacting a prostate cell that expresses fit-4 with a candidate molecule and comparing the level of flt-4 expression in the cell so contacted with a prostate cell expressing flt-4 not so contacted, wherein a lower level of fit-4 expression in the contacted cell as compared to the non-contacted cell indicates that the candidate molecule has activity in treating, inhibiting or preventing secondary prostate tumor metastases.

A method for screening for a molecule that treats, inhibits or prevents a secondary prostate tumor metastasis comprising measuring the levels of complex formed from flt-4 and VEGF-C or from flt-4 and VEGF-D in the presence of a candidate molecule under conditions conducive to the formation of said complex;

• and comparing levels of said complex that are formed in the absence of the molecule, wherein a lower level of said complex in the presence of the molecule indicates that the candidate molecule has activity in treating, inhibiting or preventing secondary prostate tumor metastases.

(canceled)

A method of monitoring the efficacy of a method of treatment or inhibition of metastatic prostate cancer comprising measuring the level of expression or activity of fit-4 in prostate cells obtained from a subject wherein said sample is taken from said subject after the application of said method and compared to (a) said level in a sample taken from said subject prior to the application of said method or (b) a standard level associated with the pretreatment stage of metastatic prostate cancer, in which a decrease in the level of flt-4 expression or activity in said sample taken after application of said method relative to the level of flt-4 expression or activity in said sample taken before application of said method or to said standard level indicates that said method is effective.

24-29. (canceled)